Octoverse Student Hackathon is an annual, student-focused innovation event designed to bring together learners, builders, and aspiring developers from diverse academic backgrounds. The hackathon creates an open and collaborative space where students can explore ideas, experiment with technologies, and work together to build meaningful solutions.

The primary goal of Octoverse is to encourage students to step beyond theoretical learning and apply their knowledge to real-world challenges. Participants will work across multiple domains such as software development, artificial intelligence, data science, business applications, and emerging technologies. The platform enables students to turn their ideas into working prototypes while learning through hands-on experience.

The hackathon is structured to support both beginners and experienced participants. Whether you are building your first project or refining advanced technical skills, Octoverse provides an environment where you can learn, collaborate, and grow. Students can participate individually or in teams, exchange ideas, and create solutions that reflect creativity, technical understanding, and practical relevance.

Throughout the event, participants are encouraged to explore new tools, frameworks, and approaches. The focus is not only on building complete solutions but also on understanding problems deeply, thinking critically, and applying innovative approaches to solve them.

Octoverse Student Hackathon is designed to guide participants through every stage—from ideation to execution and final presentation. The environment remains inclusive and accessible, allowing students from different disciplines to contribute and collaborate effectively.

Beyond building projects, the hackathon also serves as a platform for peer learning and networking. Participants get the opportunity to interact with other students, share knowledge, and gain exposure to different perspectives. This collaborative setting helps build confidence and fosters a mindset of continuous improvement.

At the end of the hackathon, participants present their projects, showcasing the problem they addressed, their approach, and the outcomes achieved. This not only highlights their work but also helps develop communication and presentation skills that are essential for academic and professional growth.

Overall, Octoverse Student Hackathon is designed to provide a balanced experience of learning, building, and collaboration. It aims to empower students to innovate, experiment, and gain practical exposure while working on ideas that have real-world relevance.

Requirements

Participants are required to submit a project that aligns with one or more of the hackathon themes. The submission should clearly demonstrate the concept, development process, and outcome of the project.

Each submission must include a detailed project description explaining the problem statement, the approach taken, and the solution developed. Participants should clearly outline the purpose of their project and how it addresses a specific challenge or use case.

A working prototype or functional implementation is expected as part of the submission. While fully developed products are not mandatory, participants should aim to present a working model that showcases the core idea and functionality of their solution.

Participants are encouraged to include a link to their source code repository, such as GitHub or any other version control platform. The repository should be well-organized and include necessary documentation to help reviewers understand the structure and functionality of the project.

In addition to the technical components, participants should provide supporting materials such as a presentation, documentation, or visual assets that help explain the project in a clear and structured manner. These materials should highlight key features, use cases, and potential impact.

A demo or explainer video is also recommended as part of the submission. The video should provide a walkthrough of the project, demonstrating how it works and explaining its key functionalities. This helps reviewers better understand the project and its practical application.

All submissions must be original work developed during the hackathon period. Participants should ensure that their work reflects their own efforts and contributions. Any external resources or libraries used should be properly acknowledged.

Submissions will be reviewed based on criteria such as innovation, functionality, usability, and overall execution. Participants are encouraged to focus on clarity, practicality, and creativity while preparing their submissions.

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

$3,850+ in prizes
+ other prizes
First Place – Octoverse Champion
$1,200 in cash
1 winner


Official Winner Certificate
Featured placement on platform and media channels
Premium Swag Kit
Recognition as Overall Champion

Second Place – Runner-Up
$900 in cash
1 winner


Runner-Up Certificate
Featured project listing
Swag Kit

Third Place – Merit Award
$750 in cash
1 winner


Merit Certificate
Recognition by organizers
Swag Kit

Theme-Based Awards
$100 in cash
10 winners


In addition to overall prizes, top-performing projects in each category will be recognized:

Best Software Development Project
Best AI / Data-Driven Solution
Best Finance / FinTech Innovation
Best Business Management / Consultancy Solution
Best Entrepreneurship / Startup Idea
Best Electrical / Hardware Innovation

Each Theme Winner Receives:

Theme Winner Certificate
Special Jury Recognition
Featured Listing on Platform
Swag Kit

Participation & Additional Rewards
600 winners


Participation Certificates
SWAG BOXES
Eligibility for future hackathons and opportunities
Access to community updates and resources

Referral-Based Rewards
100 winners

Top referrers will receive exclusive swag boxes
Bonus recognition for community contribution

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Professional Jury Panel

Professional Jury Panel
To be Declared soon !!

Nehal Sanjay

Nehal Sanjay
Software Engineer at Goldman Sachs

Danil Lee

Danil Lee
Senior Software Developer at Citibank

Judging Criteria

  • CREATIVITY
  • INNOVATION
  • DESCRIPTION
  • FUNCTIONALITY

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

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